Shawn Laurie, A.K.A. the Veteran Guy, is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran completing two tours to Afghanistan, 2007-2008 and 2010-2011. He served nine years with the South Carolina National Guard, five years on Active Duty. Shawn was injured in Afghanistan on his second tour and sent to Fort Gordon, GA, where he spent two years with the Wounded Transition Unit for ACL Reconstructive Surgery.  Shawn was diagnosed with PTSD, major Depression, and severe Anxiety and was retired from the Army in 2012.  He has struggled with opiate and Benzodiazepine addiction for 9 years.  After many years of battling with his own demons and suicidal thoughts, Shawn lost his best friend from Ft. Gordon to suicide in 2016 and decided to make necessary life changes. He checked himself into a detox center and graduated 6 months later from an intensive outpatient rehab center.  Shawn became the Founder of the Outreach Support Group, VetLife4Life, partnered with the Non-Profit Organization, Veterans with Hope, Owner of his Personal Clothing Brand, Shawn The Veteran Guy, and Authored his first workbook, Veteran Mindset 2.0.  He's known as a Mindset Influencer & Consultant reaching out through Social Media Platforms helping others with Personal Development.  Shawn shares his powerful story and message of, no matter what you struggle with, you can overcome it, as an Inspirational Speaker at his events and veteran events he is hired to speak at.  His new mission as a Veteran Activist raises awareness for Veteran Suicide, Mental Health, and Addiction, using his own experiences to show others that our mental health does not define who we are.  His favorite quotes are: don’t just talk about it, be about it, and Together is Better. Website: http://‪shawntheveteranguy.net FB: https://www.facebook.com/LifePurposeSpecialist/